How to choose the right AWP: the complete guide

14, May. 2024

 

How to choose the right AWP: the complete guide

Aerial work platforms are essential equipment in many industries, from construction to industrial maintenance to infrastructure maintenance. Choosing the right AWP is crucial to ensuring workers’ safety and efficient operations. In this article, we will guide you through the essential steps for choosing the right MEWP (mobile elevating work platform).

For more information, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

Step 1: Assessing specific needs

Before making a purchasing decision, it is important to clearly define your specific needs. Consider the following questions:

  1. Required working height: How high do you need to get? Make sure the AWP you choose has a suitable working height.
  2. Horizontal outreach: Do you need to reach areas far from the vehicle? Horizontal reach is important, especially for outdoor work.
  3. Load capacity: How much weight will the MEWP have to support? Make sure you choose a platform that can support the required load.
  4. Type of terrain: Will you be working on rough terrain or indoors? Some models are better suited to specific conditions.
  5. Type of fuel or power supply: Aerial work platforms can be powered by diesel, electricity, etc. Choose the most appropriate type of power supply for your working environment and local regulations.

 

The Time Manufacturing group offers a complete range of telescopic, articulated and pendular telescopic lifting solutions, from 9 to 90 meters. Our range also includes AWPs running on 100% electric, hybrid, LPG and diesel power, to meet a wide variety of needs.

Step 2: Considering the different types of aerial work platforms

There are several types of AWP, each adapted to specific applications:

  1. Scissor lift: These lifts offer a stable platform that rises vertically. They are ideal for working at height on a flat surface, such as building maintenance.
  2. Articulated lift: These lifts have articulated arms that enable you to reach har-to-reach areas. They are perfect for jobs that involve moving around obstacles.
  3. Telescopic lift: These lifts have a telescopic boom that enables them to reach significant heights. They are ideal for outdoor work, particularly in construction.
  4. Vertical-mast lift: These lifts are compact and ideal for tight spaces. They lift vertically and are often used in warehouses or for interior maintenance.

Step 3: Considering safety

Safety is paramount when operating MEWPs. Make sure the AWP you choose is equipped with safety features such as guardrails, anti-tilt systems and audible alarms. Operators must also be properly trained to the use of the machine and comply with safety procedures.

As a French manufacturer of MEWPs, we have been designing, building, and servicing your aerial work platforms since 1984. We know them better than anyone! This is why we are in the best position to train you to use them safely. Therefore, we provide you with a professional training center for tailor-made training courses adapted to your real-life constraints. Our training courses focus in particular on the safe use of MEWPs, safe driving authorization, PAL card, etc… Safety and machine maintenance are our priorities!

Step 4: Checking maintenance and availability of spare parts

Regular maintenance is essential to keep your aerial work platform running smoothly. Make sure the manufacturer offers a suitable maintenance plan. Moreover, check the availability of spare parts to minimize downtime in the event of a breakdown. At France Elévateur, we have 14 after-sales branches throughout France to guarantee optimum support for our customers. We are available within 200 km / 2 hours wherever you are. A hotline is also available for any emergency!

 

Step 5: Complying with local regulations

Regulations governing the use of AWPs vary from country to country, and even from region to region. Make sure you comply with all local regulations on safety and the use of aerial work platforms. This can include operator training, licensing and regular inspection requirements.

 

In conclusion, choosing the right MEWP is a crucial step in ensuring workers’ safety and efficient operations. By carefully assessing your specific needs, considering the types of aerial work platforms available, focusing on safety, and taking into account maintenance and local regulations, you can make an informed decision that will meet the requirements of your project. Do not forget to consult experts or industry professionals if necessary for further advice.

 

I Want to Take You Higher — A Guide to Aerial Lift Selection

Aerial Lifts Give You a Leg Up on Industrial Tasks

Ever had trouble reaching that top shelf? We’ve all been there, like at the grocery store when you almost consider scaling the shelves to snatch that very last carton on the highest shelf. The same can be said for construction, warehouse, or industrial applications. Sometimes you need the right tool to raise people or products to a level where a ladder or building scaffolding is impractical. 

That’s when you need to call in an aerial lift. 

Aerial lifts come in a wide variety of options, so your first set of decisions must be: 

  • What am I going to use it for?  

  • Am I planning to lift people, material, or both?

  • How high and how far do I need the lift to reach?

  • Will I be using the lift indoors or out… and over what sort of terrain?

  • Will I be using it enough to buy one, or should I just rent?

 The answers to those questions will help you decide if you need an electric-powered or IC vehicle, whether you need just a simple personnel lift or a more heavy-duty lift for workers and material, and what range of motion your lift needs to have. Then you can decide whether you should buy a new or used aerial lift, or just rent one for a short-term project.

The company is the world’s best supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

 The best way to decide which aerial lift is best suited to your particular application is to review the options of lifts available. We’re sure you’ll find one that works for you. 

Portable Personal Aerial Lifts

Personal lifts can be a safer and more convenient option vs. getting on a ladder. One person can transport them in a pickup truck or van, and they are quick and easy to assemble on-site from four components. They’re powered by a lithium-ion battery, have a weight capacity of up to 350 lb., and have a working height (platform height plus 6 ft.) of up to 20 ft.

Non-powered Vertical Mast Lifts/Aerial Platforms

These aerial work platforms are easily handled by one worker and can be maneuvered around tight locations for overhead work. They’re also powered by lithium-ion batteries and have a capacity of up to 350 lb. and a working height of up to 46 ft. 

Portable Personal Lift

Vertical Mast Lift (non-powered)

Driveable Vertical Lift Masts 

Now we’re in gear. These versatile lift vehicles allow an operator to drive around a facility and pick up items stored on racks and shelves at different heights. They are available in weight capacities of up to 500 lb. and offer a working height of up to 25 ft. Indoor models are perfect for order-picking in a warehouse, while more robust models are available for outdoor construction work. Available in either IC- or electric-powered models.

 

CLARK Material Handling Co. offers a popular little unit, the OSQ Work Platform Vehicle. The OSQ is a great replacement for rolling ladders, etc., and it makes inventory picking from low levels easy and ergonomic. It features a roomy operator’s compartment, an AC drive motor that provides high torque throughout the entire drive range, and a heavy-duty I-beam design that maintains excellent stability at height. Call our Chicago-based team for more information about the CLARK OSQ and other quality forklift and aerial vehicle products.

 

Scissor Lifts

Scissor lifts offer the ability to raise multiple people and products to heights that allow them to perform installation and maintenance tasks. They are also a good fit for taking inventory in warehouses and distribution centers. Models are available with electric drive for zero-emission indoor applications or engine drive for more rugged outdoor work. The unique mechanical design of scissor lifts affords weight capacities of over 2,000 lb. They’re available with working heights of up to 60 ft. 

 

Telescopic Boom Lifts


Now we’re really reaching for the stars! Telescopic boom lifts are suited for a wide range of applications that require lifting personnel to very high levels. They are available in heights of up to 185 ft. with weight capacities of up to 1,000 lb. Their design also affords them a horizontal reach of up to 76 ft. and a below-ground reach of up to 9 ft. Both indoor and outdoor models are available for airports, gymnasium hangar work, or rough terrain construction jobs. They are available in both electric and internal combustion models. 

 

Articulated Boom Lifts

Talk about being double-jointed – articulated boom lifts offer the ultimate in flexibility. They can reach deep within structures and over and above obstacles. They’re also suited for below-grade work, such as under bridges. Available for indoor and outdoor applications in electric- and IC-powered models, they can handle delicate applications like theaters, sports arenas, or shopping malls and tough industrial applications such as refineries and construction projects. Articulated boom lifts offer a wide range of motion, including working heights of over 150 ft., horizontal reach of up to 70 ft., with platform weight capacities of up to 500 lb. They have an over-and-above clearance of over 25 ft. and a below-ground reach of up to 15 ft.

Telehandlers

 

 

Tote that barge, lift that bale! If your application calls for lifting heavy materials to a height, a telehandler is the right choice for you. These rugged diesel-powered devices are designed to raise pallets or other formats of building materials to the tops of construction sites, move landscaping products to terraces, or remove excavated material from highway digs. Telehandlers are available with lift heights of up to 56 ft. and weight capacities of 12,000 lb. capable of handling the largest jobs thrown at them. A wide variety of attachments are optional, including truss booms, pipe grapples, work platforms, trash hoppers, and material buckets.   

What’s the Next Step?

Now that you’ve gotten an overview of the range and capability of aerial lifts, your next decision is to purchase or rent. Most of the above equipment is available for rent, and a lot of it is available in the “pre-owned” department.

Apex offers a wide range of aerial lifts from SkyJack, Genie, and JLG. Your best bet is to give Apex a call at 833-226-4573 and find out which specific model fits your application. And explore renting v. buying. Your Apex application specialist will be more than happy to help you. 

…and Stay Tuned

Our next blog will review safe operating tips for aerial lifts. 

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